Waste Management in West Windsor: A Guide!

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When we throw something out, it is quite likely that that item will end up in a landfill, though our landfills certainly don’t need new contributions. According to the EPA, the U.S. has 2,639 landfills, with 28 located in New Jersey. These sites accept all kinds of trash that aren’t recycled, composted, or turned into energy, and mainly include food waste, plastics, paper, rubber, leather, and textiles. The waste is left to decompose, emitting methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases that contribute to climate change and pollute the air. To avoid waste ending up in landfills, recycling through the Mercer County Improvement Authority (our residential recycling service) is crucial. However, because it is our county’s official service, it is restricted by government funding. As a result, we are usually unable to recycle items made from mixed materials, which make up many of our possessions and household items. But our official recycling service isn’t all that’s out there in NJ when it comes to managing our waste: for waste that our government services cannot afford to manage, many private companies are ready to step in.

Not only are there private services that offer to recycle “hard-to-recycle” items, but composting services are also on the rise. Food waste is the largest contributor to landfills, and releases methane and carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) as it decomposes. Instead of throwing food away, composting allows us to manage the decomposition of such organic materials in a natural process that strengthens soil and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as supported by the National Institutes of Health. While composting can be done in your backyard, it requires time and dedication to get it right. For most people, it’s better to leave it to the professionals.

So, without further ado, here is a list of waste management services convenient for West Windsor residents:

• Electronics: While NJ holds annual collections of covered electronic devices, you can also head to your local Best Buy any time of year to take advantage of its electronics disposal program! At most Best Buy stores, one household can recycle up to three covered electronic items per day, and haul-away options are available for larger items at home. Aside from giving your old phone or computer away, this is one of the best alternatives to throwing it into the trash.
• Fabrics: For old clothes or fabrics that you can’t give away, H&M offers a garment collecting program (any brand, any condition). This service is not only free of charge, but you will receive a coupon to use towards your next purchase. So, next time you find that your socks have holes in them, consider dropping them off at your local store!
• Food waste: There are several ways to have your food composted in West Windsor. The West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market has a location for residents to drop off their food scraps, and One Compost Can has a curbside collection service. For another option, Torus is a nonprofit organization run by high school students offering food waste pickups for composting, free of charge.
• Sneakers: These shoes are commonly made from leathers, textiles, rubber, foam, plastic, and other materials, and are difficult to recycle. However, GotSneakers is an organization dedicated to recycling sneakers, a fantastic alternative to throwing them in the trash. The organization will even pay you for each pair of sneakers you donate!
• And more: Companies like TerraCycle offer both free and paid recycling services for a multitude of items that might otherwise be “unrecyclable.”

Even committing to composting or recycling just one category of irregular items is a step in the right direction for our planet. While some composting and recycling services are cheaper or more convenient than others, doing some research (even a quick Google) before throwing something into the trash is important if we want to avoid our landfills getting any bigger! It’s time to take responsibility for our waste.